does barack obama now have a mandate? >> i don't think so because they also re-elected the house republicans. whether people intended or not, we have divided government. >> reporter: but there was one issue that the president campaigned on, it was raising taxes on the wealthy. every, single speech he gave. doesn't he have a mandate there? the top earners? >> well, seeing them pay more of their fair share as the president put it. >> you can do that through loopholes without compromising growth. but what we have learned, history and economics, is that you keep raising tax rates on job creators, it will cost us jobs. >> reporter: could you see yourself supporting a plan that raises tax rates? >> i don't want to raise taxes. >> reporter: you don't support it? >> i don't support raising tax rates. >> reporter: ryan talked to us about how the family took the loss. beginning with his 78-year-old mother. what did your mom tell you after the loss? >> she was proud of me. >> reporter: she was a celebrity on the campaign trail. >> b